Separating-distributing device for textile fibers



Nov. 8, 1966 RElTERER 3,284,140

SEPARATING-DISTRIBUTING DEVICE FOR TEXTILE FIBERS Filed Dec. 18, 1964 4Sheets-Sheet 1 P; W TI INVENTOR. FEENNANB Rams-REE ATTORNEYS F. REITERERNov. 8, 1966 SEPARATING-DISTRIBUTING DEVICE FOR TEXTILE FIBERS 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 18, 1964 [I IIIVIIIIII INVENTOR.

FE-RblNANb REWERER ATTORNEYS Nov. 8, 1966 F. REITERER 3,

SEPARATING-DISTRIBUTING DEVICE FOR TEXTILE FIBERS Filed Dec. 18, 1964 4Sheets-Sheet 5 I l I I I I I I I l I I I INVENTORZ FERDINAND IZEITERER E4 WWZMM IAML ATTORNEYS F. REITERER Nov. 8, 1966 SEPARATING-DISTRIBUTINGDEVICE FOR TEXTILE FIBERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 18, 1964 INVENTQR:

FERNNAND REWE-iZE-R .z 9

B mldg iig bm ATTORNEYS United States Patent 58,10 15 Claims. (Cl.302-s9 The present invention relates to a pneumaticseparatingdistributing device for fiber tufts or flocks, the purpose ofwhich is to separate air and dust from the fibrous material beingtransported by air and to unload the latter either into a container orany feeding device which may be a usual part of the equipment of textilemachinery.

It is known that in the textile industry, the transportation of fibersunder the form of flocks or tufts between different machines or groupsof machines is effected pneumatically. At the end of the circuit thereis usually a rotating separating-distributing device, because the directunloading of the material from the conveying pipe is impossible in viewof the violent air exhaust, as well as the violent release of thematerial and dust being conveyed.

For these reasons, the removal of the air which was used for conveyingis usually effected by means of a rotating perforated drum, the internalportion of which is connected to a fan. In this case, the total flow ofair goes through the drum surface located in front of the suction pipe,the opposite side being obstructed by a swivelling cover placed insidethe perforated drum. It is clear that in this arrangement, on the onehand, the surface available for the passage of air is relatively small,and on the other hand, the depression which prevails thereat is veryhigh. As a result, the conveyed tufts are violently sucked in againstthe surface of the drum under depres sion, and are therefore condensedinto a compact mass, which is subsequently scraped off by means of anappropriate scraper or a pair of cylindrical removers, and finallydischarged into a feeding device, such as a loader, which is a usualpart of the equipment of textile machines, particularly cotton-openersand cotton-breakers.

This condensation of the tufts or flocks into a sheet or mass is aserious disadvantage, since the purpose of the machines or groups ofmachines between which the fibrous material is being carried is in factthe opening and disentangling of tangled fibers into lighter and lightertufts, etc. The re-compressing of the fibers after each handiing stageresults in considerable reduction in the efiiciency of the disentanglingand combing actions of the machines provided therefor.

It is an object of this invention to provide method and apparatus toovercome the disadvantages described above by separating the fiber tuftsand the air used for transporting the same, without condensing saidtufts into a compact mass.

More specifically, the novel apparatus for carrying out the presentmethod is characterized in that it comprises means which provide thatthe tufts originating from any picker, are sucked in and driven by a fantoward a separating-distributor device placed in the upper portion of afeeding conduit. In this manner, the tufts are forced into theseparating-distributing device at a speed which practically correspondsto the speed of the outflow of air at the end of the conveying pipe.Preferably, the feeding conduit opens out above the highest portion ofthe machine.

The separating-distributing device is provided with an expansion chamberdefined between two perforated metal screens or filters of large areaand whose distal sides are subjected to suction by a second fan, theeffective power or strength of which is slightly less than that of theconveying fan so as to maintain a very slight overpressure in thevicinity of the screens. Thus, the reduction in the velocity of the airfrom the conveying fan as fiber-laden air enters the expansion chamber,and which reduction results from the abrupt increase in the areaavailable for the passage of air through the wide-surface screens,produces a very strong braking action upon the. movement of the fibersbeing conveyed.

A first shutter, called an obturating shutter, has an angularreciprocating motion and closes and opens alternntely the space in theexpansion chamber located beneath the two perforated screens. Asheretofore stated, the rate of flow of the air sucked in through thescreens is slightly lower than the rate of flow of the air entering theexpansion chamber, with the result that an overpressure exists in thezones defined by each movement of the shutter.

The successive formation of these overpressure zones in front of thescreens has the effect that the fibers are held in suspension, so theywill float until they are discharged, said discharge being effected by asecond shutter, called a removing shutter or discharge shutter, whichhas an angular reciprocating motion of approximately 360. It is also tobe noted that successive opening and closing of the lower portions ofthe screens by the obturating' shutter prevents the driving ofthe fibersby the discharge shutter from one perforated screen to the other.

The feeding conduit advantageously may be provided with narrowing. zonesor an axial deflector, the purpose of which is to assemble the fibersand aline them parallel to the axis of the conduit, which improves thequality of the fabric obtained with said fibers. On the other hand, toavoid clogging the conveying circuit when the feeding stack or conduitis entirely filled with fibers, the separatordistri'butor is providedwith an overflow detector, which permits the stopping or restarting ofthe machine which feeds the fibers to the conveying fan for the input ofthe separator-distributor.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a schematic longitudinalvertical sectional view of a preferred embodiment of theseparating-distributing device which is shown discharging the fibertufts into a feeding conduit placed behind a carding machine and withsuction ducts being shown in cross-section;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged plan view taken substantially along line 2-2 inFIGURE 1 with arrows showing the driving of the tufts into theseparating-distributing device, as well as to the suction device throughthe filters;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged end elevation taken along line 3-3 in FIGURE 2and being partially broken away to show the arrangement of the twoshutters, as well as the electric push-button switches of the overflowdetector;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevation similar to FIGURE 3, taken along line 4-4in FIGURE 2, showing means for actuating the shutters;

FIGURES 5, 6, and 7 are diagrammatic views illusthating the operation ofthe shutters;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 88in FIGURE 4 and showing the manner in which the shutters are mounted ontheir actuating shaft;

FIGURE 9 is a detail view of the coupling arrangemen-t between theremoving shutter and the obturating shutter;

FIGURE 10 is an electrical diagram of the overflow detecting device.

In FIGURE 1, which shows, as an example, the adaptation of theseparator-distributor of the present invention on a feeding conduit 3 ofa carding machine, 1 designates the main cylinder or swift, 2 the doffercylinder, 3 the feeding conduit, 4 the housing of theseparatordistributor 4a, and 5 the connecting means or fitting betweenthe main conveying conduit D and the separatordistributor. Fibers arefed from a machine or fiber feeder F to a conveying fan C whose outputair stream conveys the fibers along the conveying conduit D and fitting5 to the inlet I at the top of an expansion chamber E in housing 4.

In FIGURE 2, showing the connection of the suction device to theseparator-distributor, 6 and 6' designate the perforated screens orfilters, and 7 and 7 designate the branch ducts to suction pipe 8 of asuction blower unit or suction device 9.

The dust sucked through filters 6, 6', at the same time as the airflowof the conveying fan C, is forced through a pipe 10 connected to theoutlet of fan 9 and toward a usual filtering plant (not shown).

In FIGURE 3, showing the arrangement of the movable shutters, as well asthe electrical push-button switches of the overflow detector, theoperation of which will be explained in detail below, 11 designates theremoving or discharge shutter, 12 is the obturating shutter, which alsoacts as a feeler for the electrical overflow device, 13 is a support forpush-button switches 14, 14 and 15, 15', and 1-6 and 17 are stops orabutments fixed on one end wall of housing 4. The bottom wall of housing4 is provided with a large outlet or aperture.G for communic-ation withfeeding conduit -3. Support 13 is integral with or fixed to a sleeve 37which moves with shutter 12. A contacting finger 19 and removing shutter11 are fixed on a shaft 20 journaled in housing 4.

FIGURE 4, which is a view similar to FIGURE 3, shows the actuatingdevice for the removing shutter 11 and obturating shutter 12. In thisfigure, 21 designates a motor which drives the input of a speed reducingunit 22 by means of pulleys 23 and 25 and a belt 24. Motor 21 and speedreducing unit 22 are mounted on one end wall of housing 4. A disc 26provided with an eccentric roller 27 is fixed on the output shaft ofreducing unit 22. A cogged or toothed segment 28, pivoting on axis 29,is actuated in a reciprocable angular motion by eccentric roller 27which moves inside a slot 30 under the effect of the rotation of disc26. Segment 28 transmits its motion to a pinion 31 fixed on shaft 20 soas to reciprocate the removing shutter 11 and finger 19 with shaft 20.

The ratio between the number of teeth of segment 28 and pinion 31 isselected in such a manner that each movement of segment 28 correspondssubstantially to a complete revolution of pinion 31 and removing shutter11, the direction of the motion lbeing inverted each time the removingshutter 11 occupies a position perpendicularly in the middle of theaperture G on the outlet side of the separator-distributor, as shown inFIGURE 3.

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 show diagrammatically the operating principle ofremoving shutter 11 and 'obturatin'g shutter 12.

The double-pointed arcuate arrow in FIGURE 5 shows how the removingshutter 11 may effect a complete revolution around its axis, withinversion of its direction of rotation occuring in the middle of theaperture or outlet G of the separator-distributor, as heretoforedescribed.

The arcuate arrow in FIGURE 6 indicates the movement ofobturating-feeling shutter 12. The amplitude .of the angular motion ofshutter 12 is limited by the width of the outlet G of theseparator-distributor, since the shutter moves against the edges of theoutlet G upon each change in the direction of its traveling motion.

FIGURE 7 shows the combined operation of the removing shutter 11 andobturating-feeler shutter 12.

FIGURE 8 shows the removing shutter 11 with its securing sleevesorcasings 33 and 34, as well as the obturating-feeler shutter 12 with itssleeves 35, 36 and 37. FIGURE 8 shows also the actuating means of theremoving shutter 11 and obturator 12. In this instance, sleeves orcasings 33, 34, integral with or fixed to removing shutter 11, as Wellas sleeves 35, 36, 37, integral with or fixed to obturating shutter 12,are assembled in the form of a hinge on shaft 20. Sleeves 33, 34 arefixed by means of pins 38, 38' and 39, 39' on shaft 20, the driving ofwhich is effected as has been explained with respect to FIGURE 4.

A coiled spring 40 (FIGURE 9) is mounted on shaft 20 inside a hollowsleeve 41, the latter being axially movable on shaft 20 by virtue of akey 42. Spring 40, compressed by a nut 43 against a sleeve 44, exertsits pressure against sleeve 41 which, through the intermediary of a ringor washer 45, presses against sleeve 35, which may be integral withshutter 12. Since sleeves 35, 36, 37 are free on shaft 20, theircorresponding ends are obviously also pressing against sleeves 33, 34pinned on shaft 20.

In this manner, the obturating-feeling shutter 12 is actuated by shaft20 simultaneously with removing shutter 11, a yielding connectionbetween the two shutters being obtained by the pressure of spring 40. Itfollows therefore that, each time obturating shutter 12 abuts againstone of the edges of the outlet G of the separatordistrib-utor, as shownin FIGURE 3, the removing shutter 11 continues its motion, while shutter12 remains stationary until inversion of the angular motion of removingshutter 11 occurs. It is apparent that, during this stopped period ofobturating shutter 12, there is some friction at the supporting pointsbetween the sleeves rigidly fixed on shaft 20 and those which are freeon shaft 20 so as to maintain shutter 12 in the desired position.

FIGURE 10 shows the electrical overflow detector, which permits thestopping or restarting of the machine F which feeds the fiber tufts tothe conveying fan C. The overflow detector comprises two electromagneticrelays or circuit-breakers 46, 47 serially connected for the control ofmotor 48 driving the machine P which feeds the tufts to .the conveyingfan C. The four push-button switches, of which 14 and 14 are normallyopen and 15 and 15' are normally closed (FIGURES 3 and 10) are fixed onthe common support 13 which moves in fixed relation withobturating-feeler shutter 12. Switches 14', 15' are connected to thecoil of circuit-breaker 47, while switches 14, 15 are connected to thecoil of circuitbreaker 46.

As heretofore stated, the fixed abutments 16, 17 (FIG- URE 3) areprovided on one of the sides of the separatordistributor, for thepurpose of actuating the normally open or start switches 14, 14'.

Contact finger 19 fixed at the end of the driving axis of removingshutter 11 cooperates with the normally closed or stop switches 15, 15'.

Normal operation First, shutter-actuating motor 21 is energized and thestart switches 14, 14' may be closed manually to actuate and closecircuit-breakers 46, 47 to start feeder motor 48. Alternatively, startswitches 14, 14 need not be closed manually, as will be explained later.When motor 21 is started, assuming shutters 11, 12 occupy the solidsesame return shutter 12 to a position against the right-hand lower edgeof outlet G and, thereafter, shutter 11 returns to the position ofFIGURES 3 and 5.

Since switches 14, 14, 15, (FIGURE 3) are fixed on support 13 whichmoves with and follows the angular motion of obturating shutter 12, thelength of said angular motion of said switches normally is limited bythe width of the outlet G of the separator-distributor, as heretoforedescribed. The distance between the fixed abutments 16, 17 is adjustedaccording to the amplitude of the angular motion of shutter 12, so thateach time obturating shutter 12 moves toward the left, switch 14' isclosed through contact with the right hand abutment 17. Conversely, whenobturating shutter 12 moves to the right, the start switch 14 is closedby the left-hand abutment 16. It follows that start switches 14, 14' areclosed in succession and, as long as stop switches 15, 15 remain closedthereafter, as is normal, both circuit-breakers 46, 47 remain closed andfiber feeder F is operating.

The reversing of the angular motion of removing shutter 11, whichactuates obturating shutter 12, as explained, is always effected when itis positioned in the middle of the lower aperture G of theseparator-distributor. Therefore, during normal operation, contactingfinger 19 never touches the stop switches 15, 15, since at the moment ofthe reversal of the motion of removing shutter 11, there is always anangular displacement between contacting finger 19 and the stop switches15, 15. Since circuit-breakers 46, 47 are closed while the machine isoperating, it is clear that the successive closing of the start switches14, 14' by their contact with abutments 16, 17 will not have any eifectas long as the travel path of obturating shutter 12 is not modified.

Stop of feeding If the tufts being discharged through opening G are notabsorbed or used as fast as they arrive, they will accumulate in frontof outlet G of the separator-distributor 4a, which will preventobturating shutter 12 from effecting its normal travel. Therefore, theangular distance between support 13 and contacting finger 19 willdecrease progressively, and switches 15 or 15 will come nearer andnearer contacting finger 19, to be finally opened. Upon either switch 15or 15' being opened, it is apparent by referring to FIGURE 11 that thecircuit to the coil of the corresponding circuit-breaker 1-6, 4 7 isbroken to break the circuit to motor 48 and stop the machine P whichfeeds the fiber tufts to the conveying fan C.

Rea-starting feeder The feeding of the tufts to the conveying fan Cbeing stopped, obturating shutter 12 continues a reduced reciprocatingmotion, so as to avoid constant pressure upon the accumulated tufts andto facilitate their disengaging. During this time, of course, removingshutter 11 continues its complete circuit without interruption.

The level of the tufts is lowered little by little, which frees thespace in the vicinity of shutter 12, and the latter, resuming its normalangular motion, engages, by means of the fixed abutments 16, 17, thestart" switches 14, 14, which again actuate the circuit-breakers 46, 47and the motor 48 for the machine P which feeds the tufts to theconveying fan C to restart the flow of tufts through pneumatic conveyoror duct D and into separator-distributor 4a.

It is thus seen that removing shutter 11 removes fibers from filters 6,6 and, with each downward stroke of shutter 11 past either filter, thespace below the shutter 11 is open to permit the fibers to pass throughaperture G into conduit 3. At the same time the obturating shutter is,in effect, closing the other filter to the fibers then beneath removingshutter 11 while serving also to deflect fibers being displaced byremoving shutter 11 downwardly through discharge opening G. However, thelarge area of the filter then closed to the fibers being discharged is 6open to the intlowing air and fibers through the ingress opening I sothe latter fibers are held in suspension in the air above obturatingshutter 12 and small, light dust particles are drawn through thecorresponding filter.

It is important to note that by providing suction or negative pressureat the distal sides of filters 6, 6', the rate of flow of the air andfibers toward the discharge opening G is much less than it is as thefiber-laden air enters chamber G, owing to the fact that most of theconveying air is absorbed or sucked through the filters. Thus, thefibers are permitted to move slowly toward the discharge opening G andare not compressed together by high-velocity or high-pressure air, ashas been the case heretofore.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

Iclaim:

1. In a system for distributing fibers from a sourceto a location remotefrom said source including a pneumatic conveyor conduit and a fan forblowing fibers from the source along the conduit; the combinationtherewith of a housing having a pair of laterally spaced filtersdefining a chamber therebetween, said housing having an inlet at itsupper ortion communicating with said chamber for receiving fibers andair from said conduit and also having a discharge opening its lowerportion communicating with said chamber, said inlet and dischargeopening being arranged so that fibers fall through said inlet, saidchamber and said discharge opening under the impetus of air flowing fromsaid conduit, and means including an air impeller for sucking air out ofsaid chamber and outwardly through said filters to relieve the fibers inthe chamber from at least a part of the pressure of the air entering thechamber from said conduit whereby the fibers falling through saidchamber and then through said discharge opening are subjected to lesserforce of the air flowing from said conduit.

2. A structure according to claim 1, wherein the pressure of the airproduced by said impeller means is slightly less than that of the airpressure in the chamber effected by said fan.

3. A structure according to claim 2, including an obturating shutteroscillatably supported in said chamber on a substantially horizontalaxis in a medial portion of said chamber and extending substantiallythroughout the length of said discharge opening, means for oscillatingsaid shutter, and said shutter depending from said axis toward saidopening and being operable to close alterna-tely the space below the twofilters so as to cause an overpressure at each filter when the spacetherebelow is closed.

4. A structure according to claim 1, including a removing shutterjournaled on a substantially horizontal axis in a medial portion of saidchamber, means to oscillate said shutter through a sufiicient angularmotion such that said shutter alternately moves downwardly past the twofilters to move corresponding fibers toward said discharge opening, andone edge of said shutter remote from said axis being movable in closeproximity to said filters during oscillation thereof.

5. A structure according to claim 1, wherin said filters are curvedabout a common substantially horizontal axis located in a medial portionof said chamber, a pair of first and second shutters journaled on saidaxis, each shutter extending radially from one side of said axis, meansto oscillate said first shutter angularly about 360 with its free edgeremote from said axis moving alternately adjacent the proximal surfacesof said filters, said last-named means being operable to oscillate saidsecond shutter on said axis from side to side of said discharge opening,the edge of said second shutter remote from said axis being located asubstantially greater distance from said axis than said edge of saidfirst shutter.

6. A structure according to claim 1, wherein a feeding means is providedat said source for feeding fibers to said pneumatic conveyor, andwherein a duct communicates with said discharge opening for receivingfibers from said chamber; overflow detector means operable to detect anoverflow of fibers in said duct adjacent said opening, and meansresponsive to detection of such overflow by said detector means forstopping said feeding means until an overflow is no longer detected bysaid detector means.

7. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said filters are curvedabout a common substantially horizontal axis located in a medial portionof said chamber, a pair of first and second shutters journaled on saidaxis, each shutter extending radially from one side of said axis, meansto oscillate said first shutter angularly about 360 with its free edgeremote from said axis moving alternatively adjacent the proximalsurfaces of said filters, said second shutter extending downwardly fromsaid axis through said opening and being of substantially greater radiallength than said first shutter, and means yieldably interconnecting saidshutters and being operable to oscillate said second shutter with saidfirst shutter at times in which oscillation of said second shutter isunobstructed whereby said second shutter oscillates with an angularmotion less than that of said first shutter.

8. A structure according to claim 7, wherein said first shutter occupiesa substantially vertical position with its free edge adjacent saiddischarge opening at the end and start of each angular movement thereofin each direction.

9. In a system for distributing fibers from a source to a remotelocation including a pneumatic conveyor conduit, a fan for blowingfibers along said conduit, feeding means for feeding fibers from thesource to said fan, and a duct for receiving fibers at said location;the combination therewith of a housing having a pair of laterally spacedfilters therein defining a chamber therebetween, said housing having aninlet at its upper portion communicating with said chamber for receivingfibers and air from said conduit and also having a discharge opening inits lower portion establishing communication between said chamber andsaid duct, a second fan for withdrawing some of the air from saidchamber through said filters, said filters being curved, at least inpart, about a substantially horizontal axis located in a medial portionof said chamber, a shaft journaled in said housing on said axis, firstand second shutters having relatively offset portions on correspondingedges thereof mounted on said shaft and serving to fix the first shutteron said shaft and to journal the second shutter on said shaft, means torepeatedly oscillate said shaft and said first shutter angularly about360 with the free edge of said first shutter remote from said shaftmoving alternately adjacent the proximal surfaces of said filters to andfrom a position adjacent the longitudinal center of said dischargeopening, means yieldably interconnecting said shutters and beingoperable to transmit oscillation from said first to said second shutterwhenever movement of said second shutter is unobstructed, and saidsecond shutter extending downwardly through said opening and beingadapted to alternately engage opposed edges of said opening duringoscillation of said first shutter.

10. A structure according to claim 9, including means responsive toobstruction of angular movement of said second shutter into engagementwith either of opposed edges of said opening, such as by an overflow offibers in said duct, for stopping said feeding means.

11. A structure according to claim 10, wherein said responsive means isoperable to start said feeding means upon said second shutter movinginto engagement with said opposed edges of said opening.

12. A structure according to claim 10, wherein said feeding means iselectrically operable, said responsive means including a first controlelement angularly-movable in fixed relation to said first shutter, asecond control element angularly movable with said second shutter andnormally being out of engagement with said first element but beingengageable by said first element upon obstruction of angular movement ofsaid second shutter other than by engagement of said second shutter witheither of said opposed edges of said opening, electrical connectingmeans being at least one of said elements and said feeding :means, andinterengagement of said elements being operable to break the circuit tosaid feeding means.

13. A structure according to claim 12, wherein said responsive meansfurther includes switch means electrically connected in said electricalconnecting means and movable in fixed relation with said second shutter,and stop means engageable by said switch means to actuate the same andstart said feeding means when said second shutter engages alternatelysaid opposed side edges of said discharge opening.

14. A structure according to claim 9, wherein said means to oscillatesaid shaft comprises a pinion fixed on said shaft, a cogged segmentmeshing with said pinion, and means operatively connected to saidsegment and imparting predetermined oscillating angular movement to saidsegment such as to impart a complete revolution to said first shutterduring each angular movement of said segment in each direction.

15. In a system for distributing fibers from a source to a remotelocation including a pneumatic conveyor conduit, and a fan for blowingfibers from said source along 35 said conduit; the combination therewithof a housing having a pair of laterally spaced side walls defining achamber therebetween, said housing having an inlet at its upper portioncommunicating with said chamber for receiving fibers and air from saidconduit and also having a discharge opening in its lower portion fordischarging fibers therefrom, a shaft journaled in said housing on asubstantially horizontal axis located in a medial portion of saidchamber, first and second shutters having relatively offset portions oncorresponding edges thereof mounted on said shaft and serving to fix thefirst shutter on said shaft and to journal the second shutter on saidshaft, means to repeatedly oscillate said shaft and said first shutterangularly approximately 360 with the free edge of said first shutterremote from said shaft moving alternately adjacent the proximal surfacesof said opposed side walls and to and from a position adjacent thelongitudinal center of said discharge opening, means yieldablyinterconnecting said shutters and being operable to 55 transmitoscillation from said first to said second shutter whenever movement ofsaid second shutter is unobstructed, and said second shutter extendingdownwardly through said opening and being adapted to alternately engageopposed edges of said opening during oscillation of said first shutter.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,113,024 10/1914Lechtenberg 302-59 3,157,440 11/1964 Hiji Ya et al. 302-28 FOREIGNPATENTS 23,594 10/1896 Great Britain.

0 ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Primary Examiner.

EVON C. BLUNK, Examiner.

1. IN THE SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTING FIBERS FROM A SOURCE TO A LOCATIONREMOTE FROM SAID SOURCE INCLUDING A PNEUMATIC CONVEYOR CONDUIT AND A FANFOR BLOWING FIBERS FROM THE SOURCE ALONG THE CIRCUIT; THE COMBINATIONTHEREWITH OF A HOUSING HAVING A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED FILTERSDEFINING A CHAMBER THEREBETWEEN, SAID HOUSING HAVING AN INLET AT ITSUPPER PORTION COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING FIBERS ANDAIR FROM SAID CONDUIT AND ALSO HAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING ITS LOWERPORTION COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CHAMBER, SAID INLET AND DISCHARGEOPENING BEING ARRANGED SO THAT FIBERS FALL THROUGH SAID INLET, SAIDCHAMBER AND SAID DISCHARGE OPENING UNDER THE IMPETUS OF AIR FLOWING FROMSAID CONDUIT, AND MEANS INCLUDING AN AIR IMPELLER FOR SUCKING AIR OUT OFSAID CHAMBER AND OUTWARDLY THROUGH SAID FILTERS TO RELIEVE THE FIBERS INTHE CHAMBER FROM AT LEAST A PART OF THE PRESSURE OF THE AIR ENTERING THECHAMBER FROM SAID CONDUIT WHEREBY THE FIBERS FALLING THROUGH SAIDCHAMBER AND THEN THROUGH SAID DISCHARGE OPENING ARE SUBJECTED TO LESSERFORCE OF THE AIR FLOWING FROM SAID CONDUIT.